Foster issues British challenge

By Mark Orlovac

Mark Foster first made the Great Britain senior team in 1985

Mark Foster has urged British swimmers to help him claim a place at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 by trying to knock him off his perch.

The 34-year-old star, who has 42 international medals to his name, is concerned that there is a lack of competition on the domestic stage.

"Within Great Britain there is no-one within half a second of me," Foster told BBC Sport.

"When I race in this country there's no-one to compete against."

The University of Bath swimmer missed out on the Olympics this summer despite finishing first in the British 50m freestyle trials.

He was short of the qualifying mark by just 0.05 seconds and believes the lack of competition in trials makes it difficult for him to perform at his best.

Knowing that I can still deliver inspires me to keep going Mark Foster

"That's one of the difficulties at the trials - I've got no-one to push me. I'm racing the clock all the time," Foster added. "I wish there were people to chase me.

"I need that stimulation of having someone like Alexander Popov next to me to give me that feeling of 'I have to move here otherwise I'll be beaten'.

"When I race here it's more like 'I've got this race won, it's just what time I do'.

"That is why the international meetings mean so much as that is where I get the true competition."

Foster feels he is still at the top of his game and recent results support his case.

He finished with a total of three golds and a silver from this year's World and European short course championships.

Foster celebrates his gold at the World Short Course Championships

And the desire to win is still strong despite the fact that next year will be Foster's 20th season of senior competition.

"In the 12 months from next December, there are five major championships," he said.

"If I can run through that lot and pick up some medals then that would be a successful year.

"My first goal at the moment is to reach 50 international medals, the fire is still there."

Foster realises that he is nearing the end of his career but insists he will know when the time is right to retire.

"Each win and each competition is that much more precious because I know I won't last forever," he said.

Foster still chasing Olympic glory

"Times are not getting faster, people are bunching up, but I still feel I can win titles and beat the best in the world.

"Knowing that I can still deliver inspires me to keep going.

"I don't want to be one of those people that goes to championships and makes the final up. I will only go in there if I have a chance of winning.

"For the foreseeable future, I know I have a chance of winning.

"I'm 34 and I had the best season of my career bar the Olympics, and that was out of my hands."